“Putting a collection together is like working on a painting. It starts out with one thing, which leads to something else… It might sound crazy, but I really get this physical feeling when I’m starting to uncover something that feels really new and fresh, and I really pay attention to that.”

Ryan Roche

“Every denim brand out there – their goal is to make new jeans look vintage. We knew that there was millions of pairs of vintage Levi’s sitting in warehouses that nobody wanted.”

Jamie Mazur, Re/Done

“You can no longer just throw around the words like “sustainable” or “ethical” without being able to prove to your customer that there’s real commitment behind those terms. That’s the direction that the industry is taking and it’ll be unwise for brands to ignore this trend.”

Ryan Labo & Ramon Martin, Tome

“The beauty industry is one of the least regulated segments of the consumer marketplace. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t have the authority to test ingredients used in our personal care products, leaving us far behind the European Union and Canadian regulations.”

Lindsay Dahl, Beautycounter

“I allow myself 3-4 hours of “blank” time where I turn off and think about nothing. I think as a human in the modern age, not turning off is really stopping the true growth we are capable of.”

Tylynn Nguyen

“The culture and pace in rural areas of India, Peru, Indonesia, or Kenya differs significantly from that of say New York City, where a rapid turnover of production and consumption, focus on commerce, and sometimes ruthless demand for perfection are potent forces.”

Rebecca Van Bergen, Nest

“I think that the generation of brands preying off of people’s insecurities is over. Now, it’s more like a generation of people looking for brands that are willing to listen. Purpose is now expected within product. If that’s not implicit you’re not going to be around very long.”